How to Manage Land to Benefit the Local Aquifer: Ricardo Aguirre, Director of Land Management and Water Security at West Consultants, illustrated methods for restoring watershed function in both rural and urban areas with the intent to benefit the local aquifer. He discussed ongoing land restoration and groundwater recharge projects across the state with a particular focus on the innovative stormwater collection and a recharge planning-level project now underway in Prescott Valley. The program was followed by discussion and questions.  

Ricardo Aguirre is West Consultant’s Director of Land Management and Water Security. His focus is integrating natural processes into large-scale engineering projects. He has a profound interest in reversing desertification symptoms by increasing soil organic matter, harvesting stormwater, and implementing methods for quickly percolating stormwater to benefit the local aquifer. These solutions have a measurable benefit to mitigate flooding, improve both stormwater and soil quality, conserve water, provide passive irrigation for vegetation, and reduce the heat island effect. Aguirre’s project experience includes both infrastructure and land management improvements for communities that have been adversely impacted by stormwater and face water scarcity.